Herpetotheriinae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Herpetotheriinae
Fossil range: Early Paleocene - Middle Miocene[1]
Herpetotherium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Marsupicarnivora
Family: Didelphidae
Subfamily: Herpetotheriinae
Trouessart, 1879
Genera
  • Amphiperatherium (syn. Oxygomphius, Ceciliolemur, Microtarsioides)
  • Asiadidelphis
  • Copedelphys
  • Garatherium
  • Herpetotherium (syn. Peratherium)
  • Jageria
  • Peratherium (syn. Centracodon, Entomacodon)
  • Swaindelphys

Herpetotheriidae is an extinct subfamily of pygmy opossum. Species were arboreal omnivores, much like today's opossums.

Fossils have been found in the United States, Western Europe, Turkey, Egypt, India, and Canada[2]. The oldest species, Swaindelphys cifellii, is dated to around 63.3mya, and the most recent, Amphiperatherium frequens, may be as recent as 13.65 mya.[3].

[edit] References

This prehistoric mammal-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
 This article about a marsupial is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.